Arsenal face fight for Di Maria, Man U plan Pogba, Vidal raid

ROBERTO MANCINI is ready to ruin Arsenal's chances of landing Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria. The Argentine wizard has long been linked with the Gunners, back on top of the Premier League table after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Monday night but, according to Turkish daily Hurrivet, Galatasaray are gearing up for a big money offer.

The 25-year-old di Maria has been a regular this season at the Bernabeu under Carlo Ancelotti, but it's believed Real president Florentino Perez will allow him to leave provided any offer meets his valuation. Hurrivet claims that Galatasaray guv'nor Mancini will present Perez with an offer in the next fortnight, leaving Arsenal to put up or shut up.

Meanwhile Man United boss David Moyes is said to be planning an audacious double swoop for former Old Trafford prodigy Paul Pogba and his fellow Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Since quitting Manchester in 2012 Pogba has become one of the most admired young players in Europe, and Alex Ferguson's decision to let him go has been described as the biggest mistake of his career. Now, according to the Daily Mail, Moyes is planning to make good the error by luring the 20-year-old Frenchman back to Old Trafford and "has held talks with Juventus's chief transfer negotiator" to that end.

However, things may not go Moyes's way says the Mail. It says the United boss has been forced to accept that he will have his work cut out to entice Pogba back to Old Trafford and will have to wait until the summer to capture Vidal, says the paper.

Talking of former Man United prospects, Talksport claims that Manchester City are keeping an eye on Ravel Morrison's contract conundrum at West Ham. The former Manchester United playmaker is said to be "stalling" over signing a new deal with the Hammers, and the Sky Blues scent a move could be on the cards.

As it stands the 20-year-old has 18 months left on his existing deal at Upton Park and Talksport says that he "wants his long-term future decided" by the end of the month. Fulham have already had one £4m offer for the England Under-21 ace knocked back, but if City decide to table a bid it would something altogether more substantial.

On the theme of players returning to their old stomping grounds, The Guardian reports that Chelsea have agreed a deal to re-sign midfielder Nemanja Matic, as Transfer Talk reported yesterday. The Serbian midfielder, who left the Blues in 2011, will cost a cool £22m from Benfica.

Still with City and Metro reports that Stoke are close to securing a loan deal for striker John Guidetti. The 21-year-old Swedish forward has failed to break into the City first team squad and now, six years after arriving at the Etihad as one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's bright young things, it seems the end is nigh.

"He's a natural goalscorer and if we can get him into the right areas he will take chances," said Stoke gaffer Mark Hughes. "He was there [Man City] as a young player and worked with our under-21 coach Glynn Hodges when he was also there, so we know him."

Metro says a short-term deal could blossom into something more permanent if Guidetti impresses for Stoke in the second half of the season.

Elsewhere and the Daily Mirror says that Norwich City have confirmed the signing of Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez on loan for the rest of the season. The Argentine international has fallen out of favour with foul-mouthed Magpies boss Alan Pardew this season, making just two appearances for the Geordie side. Now Norwich boss Chris Hughton, who knows Gutierrez well from his time at St James' Park, has swooped for the 30-year-old veteran. "I'm happy to be here," said Gutierrez. "It's an opportunity for me to get back in the game and to try and do my best for the team.

Finally, Caughtoffside believes that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is taking "a keen interest" in Sassuolo sharpshooter Domenico Berardi and is close to tabling a bid for the 19-year-old hotshot.

Contracted to Juventus, Berardi has netted 11 goals in 14 Serie A matches for Sassuolo during his loan period, including all four in the astonishing 4-3 win over AC Milan at the weekend. As a result Mourinho is determined to bring the teenage terror to the Bridge and a £10m offer will soon be winging its way to Juventus.